Today in rock history 17th November

1944 – Byrds guitarist/songwriter Gene Clark is born in Tipton, Mo.

1946 – Jethro Tull lead guitarist Martin Barre is born in Lancashire.

1958 – DJ Alan Freed learns today that his trial for inciting a riot has been postponed until January of next year. The riot occurred during a Boston rock show he was promoting in May 1958. Prosecutors explain that the delay is because they are investigating allegations that Freed broke Massachusetts’ anti-anarchy laws.

1963 – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet singer Gene Pitney at a taping of the British pop programme Thank Your Lucky Stars. They give him their song “That Girl Belongs to Yesterday.”

1963 – In Guildford, England, a headmaster says that students turning up to Clark’s Grammar School with Beatles haircuts will be sent home. “This ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically,” says John Weightman. “It makes them look like morons.”

1970 – Tune into New York’s WPLJ-FM tonight and you can hear a live broadcast of an Elton John concert. The gig is later released as the 1971 live album 11-17-70.

1971 – The Faces release their third album, A Nod Is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse.

1978 – Led Zeppelin record two takes of their new song “All My Love.”

1979 - Jethro Tull bassist John Glascock died of a congenital heart defect in London. He was 28 years old.

1987 – During a concert in Los Angeles, U2’s Bono pulls a person from the audience to sing along to the band’s version of “People Get Ready.” In turn, the aspiring singer hands Bono a demo tape.

1990 -David Crosby broke his shoulder, left leg & ankle in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles.

1994 – Bob Dylan spends the first of two days taping an episode of MTV Unplugged at New York’s Sony Studios.

2003 – Meat Loaf is rushed to hospital after collapsing during a London concert. His record company say the 56-year-old singer “collapsed from exhaustion due to a prolonged viral infection.”

2006 – U2’s Bono and the Edge team with Pearl Jam and join Aussie acts Jet, Paul Kelly, Eskimo Joe, Evermore and the John Butler Trio at a Make Poverty History concert in Melbourne.

2007 – The Eagles were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Long Road Out Of Eden’ the bands seventh studio album and first since 1979.